Phil Mickelson skipped practice at Merion but does plan to be back in time for his Thursday morning tee time. / Andy Lyons, Getty Images

by Christine Brennan, USA TODAY Sports

by Christine Brennan, USA TODAY Sports

MERION, Pa. - Phil Mickelson has always been a family guy, but he's certainly cutting it close to make it back to the U.S. Open for his Thursday morning tee time after attending his daughter's eighth-grade graduation in California on Wednesday.

Mickelson is scheduled to take off in his private jet from Carlsbad, Calif., at 8:15 p.m. local time, 11:15 p.m. ET, according to Mickelson's representatives. He plans to land at 4:30 a.m. ET at an airport near Merion, along Philadelphia's Main Line.

It's uncertain if he will go to the house he is renting to get ready, or go to the course and use the locker room there, but this much is certain: he is scheduled to tee off at 7:11 a.m. Thursday for the first round of the Open.

Mickelson, 42, has never won the U.S. Open, but has been a runner-up five times.